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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over $627,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and
Border Protection officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International
Bridge discovered cocaine valued at $627,200 hidden within a Chevrolet pickup.

On Friday, at the Brownsville and
Matamoros International Bridge, CBP officers encountered a blue 1999 Chevrolet
pickup being driven by a 20-year-old man, identified as a United States citizen
and resident of Brownsville. After a primary inspection, a CBP officer referred
the Chevrolet for further examination. CBP officers discovered seven packages
hidden within the pickup. CBP officers removed the packages containing
approximately 19.6 pounds of cocaine.

The cocaine from this seizure has an
estimated street value of approximately $627,200. CBP officers turned the
driver over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further
investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.

“Outstanding work by our frontline CBP
officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge resulted in the
seizure of this load of alleged cocaine at the border. I applaud our officers
for their vigilance and for the arrest of this would-be smuggler,” said Michael
Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville Port of Entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged
with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and
between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and
terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.